Latest news with #BrianBarnes
Scotsman
6 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Why hopes are high of Scottish success in Senior Open at Sunningdale
Seven-strong Caledonian contingent includes two rookies who have made promising starts in over-50s' ranks Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Whisper it but could this week be Scotland's best chance of producing a winner of the ISPS Handa Senior Open for close to 30 years? Not since Brian Barnes recorded back-to-back victories in 1995 and 1996 has a player flying the Saltire picked up the over-50s' Claret Jug. Barnes, in fact, is the only Scot to have won the event, which was first held in 1987, but the 'Class of 2025' definitely has potential. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Colin Montgomerie is making his 12th appearance in the ISPS HANDA Senior Open this week |By his own admission, Colin Montgomerie is finding it more and more difficult to stay competitive in the senior ranks and landing the title at the 12th attempt and having turned 63 last month would be one of his greatest achievements. The eight-time European No 1 and Ryder Cup legend is still as competitive as ever, though, and a home gig at Sunningdale is making him excited about this week's assignment. 'It's very rare that it comes around that you're playing at home but it's just a lovely place to be,' said Montgomerie, who has his son Cameron, a scratch player, caddying for him at the Berkshire venue. 'I think it's a course that suits me more than some. It's not the longest course, par 70 is quite strict, mind you. It's a tough 70 with only two par 5s, but at the same time, got to hit the fairways. And that's what I do; the best I've done in my career is hit fairways. So if I can do that, we can score. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'You never know. If a couple of putts go in we can get into some sort of contention, not just competing in the tournament but actually into contention. So we look forward to it.' Seven years younger than his compatriot, Paul Lawrie could also easily be a contender, having shown what he's still capable of when carding a 62 in a Legends Tour event in Greece earlier in the year. The Aberdonian would have been bitterly disappointed that he was unable to convert that winning opportunity, but he'll be driven in this event, of course, by a chance to join a select group of players to have won both The Open and Senior Open. For both Stephen Gallacher and David Drysdale, this week marks Senior Open debuts for both and don't be surprised if either of them - even both - get in the major mix. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This week's Senior Open has ISPS HANDA as the title sponsor for the first time |Former Ryder Cup player Gallacher has already produced two promising performances in big events, having tied for 28th in the Senior PGA Championship then finishing joint-18th in the US Senior Open. Drysdale, meanwhile, has hit the ground running on the Legends Tour since turning 50 in March, finishing second and third in his first few events. 'Yeah, it's been good,' said the Cockburnspath man of how he's started the new chapter in his career. I lost my card in Europe at the end of 2022 and always wanted to have a couple of years out here and Asia was my option to try and keep my game going for a couple of years. 'That was my plan and it worked out well. I enjoyed Asia and hoping to get in a couple of events out there later in the year, but I am looking forward to this one. Sunningdale - what a great spot for my first Senior Open. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I've got through Open Final Qualifying here and also lost in a play-off in Open Qualifying here. I played in that six years in a row, I'd imagine. My game has been decent this season, so looking for more of the same.' Also flying the Saltire at Sunningdale, where Korea's K.J. Choi defends the title after his impressive victory at Carnoustie 12 months ago, are former BMW PGA Championship winner Scott Drummond, Greig Hutcheon and Euan McIntosh. Hucheon will be aiming to reproduce the level of golf that enabled him to get into contention heading into the final round at Royal Porthcawl two years ago.
Daily Mirror
06-06-2025
- Science
- Daily Mirror
Grim issue with 'terrible' smell could jeopardise holidays at top destinations
A grim problem with a "terrible" smell has arisen on a vast swathe of coastline in the Americas, from Puerto Rico to Guyana, affecting hotel bookings and even shutting schools A grim issue with a "terrible" smell could be jeopardising travel plans for tourists visiting the sun-kissed beaches of the Caribbean. Masses of a type of seaweed named sargassum have swamped a broad stretch of coast from Puerto Rico to Guyana, affecting locations across the West Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. La Vanguardia, a Spanish newspaper, reported that scientists observed a record amount of the troublesome macroalgae in May, but the situation could deteriorate even further this month. The seaweed invasion is reportedly hampering tourism industries in Mexico and Colombia. Meanwhile, anti-seaweed defences have been activated in the Dominican Republic, whilst the popular holiday destination of Barbados faces dips in hotel reservations. Argentina's Infobae has highlighted that this expansive belt of sargassum may extend for hundreds or even thousands of miles. Satellite imagery suggests it's drifting through the Caribbean and potentially heading for the US' southern coastline. Researchers at the University of South Florida's Optical Oceanography Laboratory warned of a whopping 150% increase in Caribbean levels, uncovering a shocking 40 million metric tonnes in the Atlantic, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. It also emits an unpleasant smell (likened to rotten eggs) when it rots, which is reportedly such an issue that it's led to school closures in Martinique. Yet, scientists don't know why the sargassum levels have doubled to these record-breaking levels. However, experts have suggested that changes in rainfall, wind, currents, and warming waters may impact its proliferation. Brian Barnes, an assistant research professor at the University of South Florida, remarked: "The peaks seem to be getting bigger year after year." Yet, the reasons behind this dramatic increase remain a puzzle. He confessed: "It's the million-dollar question. I don't have a satisfactory answer." The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) describes sargassum as a type of large brown seaweed that floats in "island-like" masses. It also has structures known as pneumatocysts. Pneumatocysts, which provide buoyancy and allow the seaweed to float on the sea, look similar to berries and contain gas, primarily oxygen. Sometimes spanning miles, sargassum provides sustenance and breeding grounds for various marine life, including birds, sea turtles, fish, shrimp, and crabs. Some creatures, like the sargassum fish, even spend their entire existence within this floating habitat. Moreover, the NOAA notes that sargassum serves as a nursery for several commercially significant fish species such as amberjacks, mahi mahi, and jacks. Brian conceded that large amounts of seaweed on the open water is conducive with a "healthy and happy ecosystem", but it can also prove to be an issue for ecosystems when it gathers on the shore. He further explained that it can pose a problem for coral reefs, as it obstructs the sunlight they need to survive. Additionally, when it washes up on shore, the creatures living in it either perish or become easy prey for birds.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Record amount of stinky seaweed piles up on Caribbean beaches
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A record-breaking amount of sargassum seaweed is making its way through the Atlantic and Caribbean, piling onto beaches and creating a stinky mess. The brown prickly algae is suffocating shorelines from Puerto Rico to Guyana and beyond, disrupting tourism, killing wildlife and even releasing toxic gases that forced one school in the French Caribbean island of Martinique to temporarily close. Something brewing in the Caribbean? Meteorologists say it's social media hype University of South Florida researchers said the total amount of sargassum from all regions combined increased from 31 million tons in April to 37.5 million tons in May, marking a new record. Each region exceeded its historical record last month, except for the Gulf. As June gets underway, sargassum inundation is expected to continue for many Caribbean islands, as well as along Florida's southeastern coast. 'The peaks just seem to keep getting bigger and bigger year after year,' Brian Barnes, an assistant research professor at USF, said. But scientists don't know why yet. 'It's the million-dollar question,' he said. 'I don't have a supremely satisfying answer.' Three different types of sargassum exist in the Caribbean and nearby areas, reproducing asexually as they remain afloat thanks to tiny air sacs. They thrive in different ways depending on sunlight, nutrients and water temperature, factors that scientists are currently studying, Barnes said. Experts also have said that agricultural runoff, warming waters and changes in wind, current and rain could have an effect. While large clumps of algae in the open ocean are what Barnes called a 'healthy, happy ecosystem' for creatures ranging from tiny shrimp to endangered sea turtles, sargassum near or on shore can wreak havoc. It can block sunlight that coral reefs need to survive, and if the algae sinks, it can smother reefs and sea grasses. Once it reaches shore, the creatures living in the algae die or are picked off by birds, Barnes said. Huge piles of stinky seaweed also are a headache for the Caribbean, where tourism often generates big money for small islands. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Guardian
03-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Caribbean beaches blighted by record masses of stinking seaweed
A record amount of sargassum has piled up across the Caribbean and nearby areas in May, and more is expected this month, according to a new study. The brown prickly algae is suffocating shorelines from Puerto Rico to Guyana and beyond, disrupting tourism, killing wildlife and even releasing toxic gases that forced one school in the French Caribbean island of Martinique to temporarily close. The amount – 38m tonnes – is the biggest quantity of algae observed across the Caribbean Sea, the western and eastern Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico since scientists began studying the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt in 2011, said Brian Barnes, an assistant research professor at the University of South Florida who worked on the new report from the University of South Florida's Optical Oceanography Lab. The previous record was set in June 2022 , with some 22m tonnes. 'The peaks just seem to keep getting bigger and bigger year after year,' he said. But scientists don't know why yet. 'It's the million-dollar question,' he said. 'I don't have a supremely satisfying answer.' Three different types of sargassum exist in the Caribbean and nearby areas, reproducing asexually as they remain afloat thanks to tiny air sacs. They thrive in different ways depending on sunlight, nutrients and water temperature, factors that scientists are currently studying, Barnes said. Experts have also said that agricultural runoff, warming waters and changes in wind, current and rain could have an effect. While large clumps of algae in the open ocean are what Barnes called a 'healthy, happy ecosystem' for creatures ranging from tiny shrimp to endangered sea turtles, sargassum near or on shore can wreak havoc. It can block sunlight that coral reefs need to survive, and if the algae sinks, it can smother reefs and sea grasses. Once it reaches shore, the creatures living in the algae die or are picked off by birds, Barnes said. Huge piles of stinky seaweed also are a headache for the Caribbean, where tourism often generates big money for small islands. In the popular tourist spot of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, officials have invested in barriers to prevent sargassum from reaching the shore. In the Dutch Caribbean territory of Sint Maarten, crews with backhoes were dispatched in late May as part of an emergency cleanup after residents complained of strong smells of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, which can affect a person's respiratory system. 'The smell is quite terrible,' Barnes said. Meanwhile, in the French Caribbean, officials expect to soon use storage barges and an upgraded special vessel that can collect several tonnes of seaweed a day. The sargassum 'disfigures our coasts, prevents swimming and makes life impossible for local residents', the French prime minister, François Bayrou, recently told reporters. But Comito said such vessels were 'massively expensive' and not a popular option, noting that another option – using heavy equipment – is labor-intensive. 'You have to be careful because there could be sea turtle eggs affected,' he said. 'It's not like you can go in there and massively rake and scrape the whole thing.' Some Caribbean islands struggle financially, so most of the cleanup is done by hotels, with some offering guests refunds or a free shuttle to unaffected beaches. Every year, the amount of sargassum expands in late spring, peaks around summer and starts to decline in the late fall or early winter, Barnes said. The new record is likely to be broken – experts said they expect even more sargassum for June.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
A mystery wave of seaweed is causing a stink in the Caribbean
A record amount of sargassum seaweed amassed across the Caribbean and surrounding areas in May, with more expected this month, according to a recent report. The brown algae is blanketing shorelines from Puerto Rico to Guyana, disrupting tourism, killing wildlife, and emitting toxic gases. One school in Martinique was temporarily closed due to the fumes. The volume of seaweed—38 million metric tons—is the largest quantity observed in the Caribbean Sea, the western and eastern Atlantic, and the Gulf of Mexico since scientists began monitoring the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt in 2011. Brian Barnes, an assistant research professor at the University of South Florida and contributor to the report published by the university's Optical Oceanography Lab, confirmed the findings on Monday. The previous record was set in June 2022, with approximately 22 million metric tons. 'The peaks just seem to keep getting bigger and bigger year after year,' he said. But scientists don't know why yet. 'It's the million-dollar question,' he said. 'I don't have a supremely satisfying answer.' Three different types of sargassum exist in the Caribbean and nearby areas, reproducing asexually as they remain afloat thanks to tiny air sacs. They thrive in different ways depending on sunlight, nutrients and water temperature, factors that scientists are currently studying, Barnes said. Experts also have said that agricultural runoff, warming waters and changes in wind, current and rain could have an effect. While large clumps of algae in the open ocean are what Barnes called a 'healthy, happy ecosystem' for creatures ranging from tiny shrimp to endangered sea turtles, sargassum near or on shore can wreak havoc. It can block sunlight that coral reefs need to survive, and if the algae sinks, it can smother reefs and sea grasses. Once it reaches shore, the creatures living in the algae die or are picked off by birds, Barnes said. Huge piles of stinky seaweed also are a headache for the Caribbean, where tourism often generates big money for small islands. 'It is a challenge, but it's certainly not affecting every single inch of the Caribbean,' said Frank Comito, special adviser to the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association. In the popular tourist spot of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, officials have invested in barriers to prevent sargassum from reaching the shore, he said. In the Dutch Caribbean territory of St. Maarten, crews with backhoes were dispatched in late May as part of an emergency clean-up after residents complained of strong smells of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, which can affect a person's respiratory system. 'The smell is quite terrible,' Barnes said. Meanwhile, in the French Caribbean, officials expect to soon use storage barges and an upgraded special vessel that can collect several tons of seaweed a day. The sargassum 'disfigures our coasts, prevents swimming and makes life impossible for local residents,' French Prime Minister François Bayrou recently told reporters. But Comito said such vessels are 'massively expensive' and not a popular option, noting that another option — using heavy equipment —- is labor-intensive. 'You have to be careful because there could be sea turtle eggs affected,' he said. 'It's not like you can go in there and massively rake and scrape the whole thing.' Some Caribbean islands struggle financially, so most of the cleanup is done by hotels, with some offering guests refunds or a free shuttle to unaffected beaches. Every year, the amount of sargassum expands in late spring, peaks around summer and starts to decline in the late fall or early winter, Barnes said. The new record set is hardly stationary — experts said they expect even more sargassum for June.
